After SilkAir decided not to renew the contract with the Government of Timor-Leste, flights from Timor-Leste abroad were 100% dependent on Garuda aircraft, City Link and Sriwijaya. With this "Monopoly" the three planes play apart in the increase of ticket prices according to their "wishes" ("will".
On Friday (24/05) the Air Timor Management board accompanied by former President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Prize Winner José Ramos Horta visited the Government Palace to present a solution (solution) to Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak.
Horta Says, he accompanied Air Timor management board to meet with Prime Minister Taur to inform about the memorandum of understanding signed by Air Timor with a Flight Company from China.
"Air Timor has succeeded in cooperating with companies in China, regarding new aircraft, Air Timor has reached an agreement, now we will just wait for the authorization so that this aircraft can fly from Dili to Xinjiang (China)," Horta said after meeting with PM Taur.
Horta Explains, Airplane from Chinese airlines will carry out operations in Timor-Leste where the plane is new and has not reached one year of age.
"These planes are very modern. 134 seats, 8 for business class, new aircraft have not reached one year in age, I have seen it. They have done a lot of international flights already. They have many planes, they also want to come to Timor. "
Thus, Horta added, he accompanied Air Timor management board to meet East Timor Prime Ministru so that the Timor-Leste Government began to move to cooperate in the field of Air Service Agreement, with the Government of China.
"So I brought them to speak with the PM to see the Government move quickly to make an agreement with China, the Air Service Agreement. "There must be an agreement between both Government’s, this is normal, all countries do it," he said.
When there is already a legal authorization from the Government, he said, the aircraft may begin to pass Timor-Leste connections with various countries in the hemisphere.
"Xinjiang is close to Hong Kong to Dili, directly, then they may fly Dili to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Darwin."
"The plane is ready, it will arrive in June. The problem now is between both governments. The company is ready to come here, as is too is the plane. "
With the presence of this aircraft, in addition to making better connections between Timor-Leste to the world, it can also solve the problem of ticket prices.